Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-16
At PHILADELPHIA.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CENTENNIAL
Celebration Opened in the Quaker City
GOrgsOusly.
An IMMENSE PARADE and CROWD.
A Description Of the Scenes of the First
Day.

PHILADELPHIA, September l5.-The
last centennial OF the eveuts of revolution,
ary times began this morning.
If there is one thing more than another
for which the million and half Of people
who are temporary residents of this city Of
centennials are thankful, it is the weather.
With a clear sky, Obscured here and
there only by stratas of clouds, the day
gave promise of being everything that
could be wished, and a heavy load has
been lifted from the hearts of many who
have been for months looking forward to
the day when the greatest epoch in the
history of the last century should be cele-
brated
Philadelphia and her hundreds of thou
sands of guests appeared on the streets early
this morning in their holiday garb, light
hearted and all bent toward the single OBJ
ject of making the celebration a fitting one.
All day yesterday and last night visitors,
including distinguished guests, military
and firemen, arrived by every possible con-
veyance and the dozen railroad depots were
taxed to the utmost in accommodating the
throng which had flocked to the Cradle OF
Liberty" to bear witness by their presence
of their love and veneration for the historic
document which gave them liberty and
freedom, and made this "a government OF
the people, by the people, an for the peo-
ple."
All the hotels were filed to overaowing
by yesterday morning, and every inch of
surplus pace had been filled with cots and
other means of temporary rest, so that
many Of the strangers had to resort to the
Bureau of Instruction" which was estab-
lished during the early days of the Consti-
tutional Centennial BOOM" and which
has performed an important mission since
its inception. II is safe to say that there
are at least 300, 600 visitors from distance
in addition TO the thousands from adjacent
counties of Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Delaware and Maryland, and hardly q
State or Territory remains unrepreSented
in the three days festival.
NOVEL EFTECTs IN DECORATION.
The streets to day presented an appear
ance that is lovely in the extreme. In all
directions as far as the eye can reach 1t
was one mass OF bunting and decoration.
Many ofthe newspaper offices and public
buildings made lavish display, the deco
rators having worked early and late to
complete their work in time. At daylight
this morning they were still at work put
ting the finishing touches, which have
been more or less delayed by the inclement
weather. Every arrangement has been
made by those in charge and the day was
one of the most eventful ones in the his.
tory of the civilized world.
The monster civic and industrial pageant
started from Broad and Dauphin streets
shortly after ten O'CLOCK, and marched to
Broad and Moore streets, a distance Ot
nearly Eve miles, and then cOuntermarched
10 tGe starting point, passing through one
continuous Ike o. observation stands Gally
decorated with the hsgs Of all nations.
North Broad street was 30 crowded as II
be almost impossible as early as O'clock,
and the great crowds blocked themselves
tOzether in the streets, Notwithstanding
the efforts !: the police to keep the latter
clear "a North BrSS9 street there was
scarcely house, public % Er.T,te. that
was not covered with bunting or Ia Otner
ways suitably decorated.
The decorators striyed iOr novel effects
and IC this they were highly successful.
Some hOusSs gere almost covered with
heroic statues of ColGWbia surrounded by
the flags of all nations, Eniie other fronts
were completely concealed with bunting.
The Odd Fellows Hall exhibited banner
announcing that place rs the spot wnere
franklin drGE lightning from the clouds
in IT'S" " aud AZ otter points busts oi
Washington were mounted Ia trGnt OF the
houses and profusely decorated.
Nearly all the side streets leading into
North BROAD were roped off aud were hlled
with trucks On which huge tiers OF seats
were erected and rapidly sold. The crush
on some Of the stands E&s - great that
number OF ladies tainted.
DISASTER AT A REVIEWING STAND
,sgiAging stand at Broad aud Moore
streets gave EEy under the tremendous
weight of people uPos :; shortly after the
psrsde started this morning.
There was scene of indescribable eo4'
fusion Women shrieked and children
cried. whls men sought to light their way
out Of the struggling mass Of humanity
A number OF persons Ssrs iD,ured, some,
it IS feared, fatally. No names ass yStGo-